Housing complaints now available online

Rebecca Susmarski The Register-Mail

Tuesday

May 8, 2018 at 6:44 PMMay 8, 2018 at 6:44 PM

GALESBURG — In conjunction with its other efforts to address housing issues, the city of Galesburg has begun publishing reports on its website that show where city staff members are in the process of addressing complaints and inspections for specific homes.

The city recently published its first quarterly report, which shows homes that were in the complaint or inspection process from Jan. 1 through May 4. The city also has published weekly reports for approximately four weeks and will continue to publish them indefinitely. The reports show the address of the property; whether it is a rental or housing unit; whether there has been a complaint or notice sent to the home, or whether an inspection has been initiated or completed; the date of the latest action taken; and a description of the issue.

The city’s software has always kept track of housing complaints and inspections, but the city decided to start publishing the information from its software in reports for greater transparency, said Judy Guenseth, housing coordinator for the city. Residents thinking of filing a complaint or asking the city to inspect the property can check the reports to see if another resident already has done so.

Another benefit to having the reports is that the city can keep track of homeowners in three categories: those who may have a violation and don’t know it; those who know they have a violation but can’t afford to fix it; and those who know they have a violation but require city intervention and enforcement.

“As we track this stuff and we’re dealing with it, and people get used to the idea there’s transparency, maybe they won’t want their name on the complaint sheet,” Guenseth said.

Tracking the homes also could help the city create a fourth category: homes that are abandoned or vacant. The city does not have its own separate database showing the total number of vacant homes in the city just yet. The city has used a record from the Town of the City of Galesburg Township Assessor’s Office showing there were 382 vacant homes in the city in 2014, as well as data from homes that have had their water shut off, to estimate the number of vacant properties. The U.S. Census Bureau puts the number at approximately 1,400.

Guenseth added that the publication of the city’s work on housing also could help the public understand the multi-step process that is involved after a complaint is filed against a home. That topic also came up at a meeting Guenseth and other staff members had with eight members of the public Tuesday. The community members came to discuss housing complaints and report violations they’ve seen at homes in their neighborhoods.

“Unfortunately, balancing people’s private property rights with city government requires time,” said Wayne Carl, director of planning and public works for the city, during the meeting. “It isn’t a delay that we’re unwilling to act. ... I feel like all the staff that are involved in this are committed, like you, to seeing our neighborhoods getting improved.”

Galesburg resident Ranee Collura said during the meeting that while she understood the process takes time, the city has “to understand the frustration of people who have lived in these homes.” She liked that the city is posting the complaints and its process online, but noted that not all residents have a computer and may not be able to see it.

Not all property owners or landlords may care either if they see their property on the list in the future, she added.

“Some of these slumlords, they don’t have a conscience if they’re letting people live like this,” Collura said. “So are they going to care if they’re on (the list)? I don’t know. I guess time will tell.”